Leodora and Musette, orphan sisters, have run away from a traveling circus to escape exploitation and abuse. Leo (the plain elder sister) is convinced that Muse (her cute and talented younger sister) has what it takes to dance on stage at the legendary Curiosity. Meeting Paxton, heir to the Curiosity, gives the girls an opportunity to prove themselves, and the future looks bright until tragedy strikes at the Curiosity. Leo, Muse and Paxton must solve a mystery and expose saboteurs in order to save their home and their livelihood.
Oh, but it’s not anywhere near that simple. This is Steampunk. Just in case I’m not the last person to become aware of Steampunk, this story takes place in a less technologically advanced era, but involves some strange and amazing technology of its own.
Each person in this particular world is gifted with a “Knack,” a talent that allows them to do something unusual … and typically helpful. Muse’s knack is levitation, a boon to her dancing skills. Paxton is a genius at repair jobs, which is perfect for someone who works at a theater with animatronic characters. Leo’s knack is the ability to manipulate people’s emotions. Knacks can also cause problems, and this is the situation for Leo on more than one occasion. She begins to see her knack as a bit of a curse. All she wants is for her sister to get a fair chance to be successful, but things don’t always work out the way she hopes they will.
Blackmail. Threats. Danger. Sneakiness. Accusations. Ultimatums. And snails? Yes, don’t forget the snail circus. This is a fun book with unexpected situations and interesting characters. It touches on some dark topics, but not in a graphic way; springboards for discussion abound. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
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A steampunk with heart!
Having read several of Ms. Burke's novels (and I especially liked her Nyssa Glass steampunk series), I was excited to read her latest, which is set in the world of theatre using an interesting concept of magical "knacks." The MC is Leodora, or Leo, who has had a rough upbringing in a traveling circus where unspeakable things happened to her. This causes her to run away with her younger sister Muse, not only to protect her but to help her reach her dream of being a dancer. At The Curiosity, an old family theatre with dark secrets of its own, they meet a fellow teen named Paxton who has a mechanical arm and a kind heart. Leo and Muse find a home and a family, and all is well for four years. But conflict is the heart of fiction, so of course, things don't stay safe. Someone else wants to uncover the secrets at the Heart of the Curiosity, and destruction and death ensue.This wonderful story is part magic, part mystery, and part coming-of-age while dealing with serious subjects in a very effective way. The details are so much fun to read, from the smells and tastes of the local "coffee shop" to the adorable snail circus and the chilling, sometimes dangerous secret passages in the old theatre. Recommended for older teens and up, since there is a murder, two self-defense killings, mild swearing, and the effects of rape, but all are dealt with in a sensitive way.
